Disappearing step



C. H. VOGEL DISAPPEARING STEP June 16, 1925.

Filed April 14, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

June 16, 1925.

C. H. VO-GEL DISAPPEARING STEP 1 1 r Pf A INVENTOR AITORNEY aterited June 16, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

CARL I-I. VOGEL, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

I. DISAPPEARING STEP.

Application filed April 14, 1924. Serial No. 706,471.

To all 1127mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cant. H. Voonn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Disappearing Steps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a vehicle step, the general object of the invention being to provide a disappearing stew.) which will be hidden from view when the vehicle is running along and which will be moved to operative position when the door is opened.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behercinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims. 1 r

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding; parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a view showing the invention applied to an automobile, with the door in open position. 1

Figure 2 is a view showing the door in closed position.

Figure 3 is a ure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing the step in lowered or opened position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the telescopic part of the rod,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the upper part of the rod.

In these views, 1 indicates the step member which is of angle shape in cross section to provide the step part 2 and the riser part 3. This member is hinged in an opening 4 formed in the body of the vehicle below the door A thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, by means of a rod 5 which section on line 3-8 of Figpasses through the corner pieces 6 of the step member and which is supported by the hangers 7 which depend from the frame of the vehicle. Where the improved step is used at each side of the vehicle, hangers at one side of the vehicle are connected with those at the other side by the forked brace member 8. A rod 9 having a bent flat part 10 secured to the bottom of the door is provided for rocking the step member upon its pivotal point to move the step into operative and inoperative position by the movement of the door. This rod 9 is provided with a telescopic rod 11 which is provided with'a spring 12 and a roller 13 for engaging the step member, the part 11 frictiona-lly engaging the rod and said rod 9 being flexible at its point of junction with the par 10 so that it will move the step member slowly and easily, even though the door might be swung open or closed with con siderahle force. A stop l l may be placed on the upper edge of the riser for limiting the outward movement of the step member.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the opening; 4 will be closed by the step when the door is closed so'that the step cannot be used until the door is opened and then when the step in operative position the riser will close the opening. The step member is moved by the movement of the door through the rod 9 and the roller 13 is held in frictional engagement with the step member by the spring 12.

This invention will prevent persons from jumping on the running boards or steps of the vehicle while the same is moving along or as long as the door is closed. Vlhile the invention is mainly designed for motor vehicles, it will of course be understood that it can be used on other vehicles.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination. and arrangement of the seve al parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a vehicle, a step member of angle shape in cross section and composed of a step part and a riser part, means for pivotally supporting the step member in the ve hicle body under the door thereof and a rod having its upper end connected with the door and a lower part engaging the step member for tilting the member on its pivot when the door is opened or shut.

2. In a vehicle, a step member of angle shape in cross section and composed of a step part and a riser part, means for pivotally supporting the step member in the vehicle body under the door thereof, a member on the door engaging the step member for moving the same, such means comprising a rod connected with the bottom of the door and having a spring pressed telescopic part on its lower end and a roller on said 10 part for engaging the step member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CARL H. VOGEL. 

